Tshwane taxi protest puts amaphela regulation back in the spotlight

Monday morning traffic in Pretoria’s CBD was disrupted when taxi drivers from Atteridgeville attempted to block key routes in protest against the impoundment of their vehicles. It was a familiar scene for many Tshwane commuters. Frustration is spilling onto the streets. Police are responding swiftly. And at the centre of it all, a deeper question that has been bubbling for years. How should South Africa deal with unlicensed township transport that communities rely on every day?

Why the protest happened

The protest was sparked by ongoing enforcement operations by the Tshwane Metro Police Department, which have been impounding vehicles operating without the required permits. These vehicles are often small cars, usually seven-seater models like Toyota Avanzas, commonly referred to in townships as amaphela.

Drivers attempted to draw attention to their grievances by obstructing traffic in the CBD. Metro police intervened, impounding five vehicles and arresting four drivers on charges related to public violence and illegal obstruction of roads. City officials said the action was necessary to restore order and protect commuters, businesses, and emergency services.

Santaco distances itself, but raises a bigger issue

The South African National Taxi Council in Tshwane was quick to distance itself from the protest. Local spokesperson Ernest Bokaba made it clear that the drivers involved were not Santaco members and were operating illegally under current transport regulations.

At the same time, Santaco acknowledged a reality many residents understand all too well. Amaphela services have become a lifeline in townships where larger 15-seater taxis cannot easily operate. Narrow streets, shorter routes, and localised demand have allowed these small vehicles to quietly fill gaps in the transport system for years.

Bokaba stressed that while law enforcement was acting within its rights, the solution cannot simply be more impoundments. Santaco is calling on the government to engage with these operators and find a way to regulate them so they can operate legally and safely.

City of Tshwane stands firm on enforcement

Tshwane’s Mayco member for Community Safety, Hannes Coetzee, defended the metro police response, saying officers had attempted to resolve the situation peacefully before taking action. According to the city, repeated instructions to remove vehicles were ignored, leaving authorities with little choice but to impound vehicles that did not comply under the National Land Transport Act.

Coetzee was firm in his message that the city would not be intimidated into abandoning enforcement. He said law enforcement would continue to act without fear or favour, even when doing so is politically uncomfortable.

A familiar tension in township transport

The incident highlights a familiar divide in township transport debates, where enforcement of the law often clashes with the daily realities of commuters who rely on informal services.

This tension between legality and necessity is not new. Amaphela have been operating in township economies for many years, often with acceptance from communities that depend on them for affordable and accessible transport.

What happens next

Santaco’s call for regulation rather than punishment suggests a possible path forward. Bringing amaphela operators into the formal system could improve safety, create accountability, and preserve a service that many residents rely on daily.

For now, the Tshwane taxi protest has once again highlighted the gap between transport policy and lived reality. Until that gap is addressed, similar scenes on city streets are likely to repeat.